Occupy Providence is planning to "occupy the sidewalk" outside the coming Netroots Nation conference, June 7-10. The action is not meant as a protest against the event, but as a protest against economic injustice; indeed, the Occupyers and the lefty bloggers who populate the netroots are largely simpatico on this and other issues.

Occupy Providence, alongside activists from AIDS advocacy group ACT UP and the Student Global AIDS Campaign plan to march today on the Biltmore Hotel, where Vice President Joe Biden will be appearing at a fundraiser for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

The march will begin at Burnside Park, former site of Occupy Providence's 24-hour-a-day protest, and land in front of the Biltmore where activists will call on the Obama Administration to support a Wall Street transaction tax that would bring in an estimated $350 billion over the next nine years.

Occupy Providence can claim a big win with the opening of a day shelter for the homeless.

The group's General Assembly had demanded a day center in exchange for leaving Burnside Park - a clever push to turn the city's concerns about Occupyers' health and safety, as the weather grew colder, into a focus on the health and safety of the homeless.

Not for Nothing is back after a New Year's hiatus. Happy 2012, people. A few political/media notes and Occupy ruminations as we get back into the swing of things:

Darrell West, the former Brown University political science professor now with the Brookings Institution will be speaking on the presidential election this Saturday, January 7, at the Newport Museum of Art at 2 p.

Providence city officials and some homeless advocates are voicing skepticism about the wisdom of opening a daytime homeless shelter, casting doubt on whether the Taveras Administration will agree to Occupy Providence's demand for such a shelter in exchange for leaving Burnside Park.

But the city appears to be taking the thrust of the Occupiers' demands - better care for the homeless this winter - seriously.

As Occupy Providence heads toward a transition - out of Burnside Park and onto the street - one of the most critical questions it faces is this: will the movement shift from protest to politics?

I'll tackle that question and more in a piece in the Phoenix this week on the future of the movement. But one thing that struck me in talking with Occupiers over the last few weeks: a sharp disdain for traditional politics.

Some of Occupy Providence's core members are upset with how the group's General Assembly vote yesterday to leave Burnside Park - in exchange for a city-sponsored daytime shelter for the homeless - played out.

I just spoke with Jared Paul, a performance artist and writer who has been a central figure in the movement. "Myself and other people are not fucking happy," he said.

Huddled in a tunnel not far from Burnside Park, which they've held since October 15, members of Occupy Providence voted 36-11 tonight to leave the park if the city of Providence opens a daytime shelter for the homeless.

The vote, which came at the end of an emotional and at times tense meeting of nearly three hours, just cleared the 75 percent threshhold required for approval and pushes the movement into a new and uncertain phase.

Occupiers have labeled her arrogant. Republicans are calling her too radical. The following Occupy video, produced before the current controversy, speaks to why she's energized progressives across the country, though, forcing her Democratic rivals to drop out of the Senate race and setting up a compelling battle with GOP Senator Scott Brown.

The Occupy Providence folk are planning Occu-Stock, a "masquerade music festival," Friday-Sunday in India Point Park. There will be plenty of music - Brown electronica phenom Nico Jaar is among the scheduled performers. And Big Nazo will bring its big puppets.

Admission for the event, 4-11 pm each day, is free. But attendees will be asked to donate to Occupy Providence.

Boston PhoenixThe Occupy VictoryPublished 1/24/2012 by David Scharfenberg
Occupy Providence can claim a big win with the opening of a day shelter for the homeless.The group's General Assembly had demanded a day center...

Boston PhoenixAnd We're Back...Published 1/3/2012 by David Scharfenberg
Not for Nothing is back after a New Year's hiatus. Happy 2012, people. A few political/media notes and Occupy ruminations as we get back into...